2004 5.3 smokes on startup and burning oil

[KARNUT]

Don't sweat it unless its making noise, a little lifter noise woulnt hurt either. I bought a truck with a 383 that has a whipple uses a quart every 500 miles. You read that right no smoke unless I really hammer down, I drove it every day for one year now I drive it about once a week. Its been three years still on the same spark plugs. Just drive it save your money if you like the truck put an Good Wrench engine in it later. If it last long enough, you can reward yourself with a 383, 400 HP GM Good Wrench engine. Unless its hammering bad you be surprised on how long it will go. The joke on the guy that sold me mine its still going strong.

[efritz]

Just put Rotella 15w40 in it and keep driving it. That's what we do with all our work trucks when they see that kind of mileage and start losing oil. You might check the PCV valve, as my truck with a 5.3 was doing the same thing and a new PCV made it all go away as it was sticking halfway and sucking oil in.

[txab]

Just put Rotella 15w40 in it and keep driving it. That's what we do with all our work trucks when they see that kind of mileage and start losing oil. You might check the PCV valve, as my truck with a 5.3 was doing the same thing and a new PCV made it all go away as it was sticking halfway and sucking oil in.

 

2004 has no PCV. It has a fixed orifice.

[efritz]

Yep I forgot about that. While you bring that up, some had issues with burning oil due to the baffle system in the valve cover, I believe there is a TSB.

[Jsdirt]

With the 900's it seems like '09 was the worst for oil burners.

 

Mine being an '07, I used to get a quick puff out the exhaust - that's the great thing about remote starting - you can see and smell first hand. Strange thing is, the smoke is gone as of late, but I've since switched to Amsoil Signature Series - that could be why.

 

Just added my first quart ever on a cross-country trip. I was doing 94 mph for thousands of miles through the west, loaded with gear, 1 small passenger (wife), and a '84 Honda XL350R in the back (about 350 lbs). 1 quart in 6,2xx miles at those speeds I can't really complain about.

 

Towing I found that the truck will use more oil if I use the cruise control in hilly areas, where it will make the tranny kick down and bring the engine to 5 grand ... which drives me absolutely nuts. Note to self - while on 91 North in VT, DO NOT use cruise control with over 5k lbs. in tow.

 

Still pisses me off that it uses ANY oil though. I've had older vehicles with 5x the miles burn NO oil .... but such is 21st century life.